Halifax
Annapolis Apple Blossom Festival
Spring time in Nova Scotia is damper and rainier than many other provinces of Canada, but the wet spring weather does not stop the fun you can find there. There are many fun activities for the whole family to do or take part in across this beautiful province.
Celebrate spring in Nova Scotia with these 25 fun activities:
Maple Syrup Trip
Early spring is the only time that you can see the syrup being made and experience the exquisite taste of taffy on snow. Nova Scotia is home to many sugar bushes, so you are never too far from the liquid gold experience! If there is still snow, you can enjoy taffy on the snow!
Enjoy Burgers During Halifax Burger Week
Burger Week has become a local favorite and Haligonians go nuts for this special week every year. Restaurants across Halifax create special burgers that you can try at some seriously discounted prices and complete to see who has the best burger in the city.
Around Halifax, NS
March 28 to April 3, 2019
Halifax Comedyfest
Get ready to laugh when the Halifax ComedyFest hits the stage. Comedians from across North America travel to Halifax to make everyone laugh. The Halifax Comedyfest is one of three major comedy festivals broadcast on CBC TV nationally.
Around Halifax, NS
April 24 to 28, 2019
Eco-Endurance Challenge
The Eco-Endurance Challenge is great if you are looking for a challenge this spring. There are four navigational competitions that have eight and twenty-four hour options, and a 4-hour Recreational option that is family friendly.
Goffs
May 4th to 5th, 2019
Apple Blossom Festival
One of Nova Scotia’s largest festivals in the spring, the Apple Blossom Festival takes place across the Annapolis Valley. There are a lot of events happening all week long that are fun for the whole family. The highlight of this festival is the Grand Street Parade which has more than 100 entries every year.
Annapolis Valley
May 29 to June 3rd, 2019
Varies with the activity
OBEY Convention
The OBEY Convention presents a festival of contemporary and underground music and art each spring. Incorporating artists from multiple genres and disciplines, our tightly curated programme is like no other in the country. Audiences see the best in electronica, avant-rock, jazz, modern composition, noise, ambient, visual art, spoken word and beyond. Join with us to celebrate the fringes of culture and the power of new ideas. Details
May 30th-June 2, 2019
Various Venues, Halifax.
Cold Waters Seafood Festival
The Eastern Shore is known for its first class seafood. When you head to the Cold Waters Seafood Festival, get ready to sample the freshest seafood in the Maritimes. You can also paint your own buoy, take dory rides and take a photo in the boat booth. The festival runs from 11 am to 4 pm each day.
5435 Clam Harbour Road, Lake Charlotte
June 1st to 2nd, 2019
Rhubarb Festival
This celebration of all things Rhubarb is the perfect way to spend a late spring afternoon. You can take the family out to enjoy delicious rhubarb desserts and live music at the Rhubarb Festival.
91 Old Church Road, Lower West Pubnico
June 6, 2019
$6 per person – $5 for members
Highland Fare Day
Celebrate Highland food and fare! Visit homes throughout Highland Village Museum and see how traditional meals are prepared! See demonstration of sheep shearing., how raw wool is processed at Cash’s Carding Mill and speak with members of the Cash family who operated the mill for generations.
Highland Village Museum, Iona
June 8, 2019
Roots to Boots Festival
The Roots to Boots Festival is an annual festival held in the communities of Louisburg and Cheticamp. It is a unique blend of local entertainment that will please everyone. You are sure to enjoy local-flavours, storytelling, concerts, hiking, dances and much more.
15584 Cabot Trail, Cheticamp
June 13 to 16, 2019
Scotia Festival of Music
May 27 – June 9
Halifax
Garrison’s Backlot Bash
The 5th edition features Broken Social Scene with Dave Sampson, Natalie Lynn, and the winner of Battle for the Bash!! With great live music, comes great Food Trucks, they will all be there creating spectacular local fare and of course be fresh Garrison craft beer and local cider. Garrison favourites will pour beside several special release and seasonal brews to wash it all down.
Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Cunard Event Centre
Pier 23, 961 Marginal, Halifax
Rent a Bike and Hit the Trails at the Train Station Bike & Bean
The Train Station Bike & Bean is a unique blend of a bike shop and a café. The shop is located on the St. Margaret’s Bay Trail section of the Rum Runners Trail, making it a great option for those who are looking to see the trees and flowers bloom. They offer daily and weekly bike rentals.
5401 St Margaret’s Bay Road, Upper Tantallon
Explore Gadens
Welcome spring with a garden tour! The different climates around the province allow different plants and flowers to grow to new heights. Here is a list of 15 gardens to explore!
Enjoy Nova Scotia Spirits
Ideas for a Spring tipple trip!
- Annual Easter Egg Hunt Wine Tour: Join in the fun on this special tour to celebrate Easter! The tour includes a private wine tasting in a divine setting at Avondale Sky Winery and a private tour and wine tasting at our newest winery Lightfoot & Wolfville.
- The NSLC Bordeaux Week: Get to know the most famous wine region in the world through Bordeaux Week
- The Nova Scotia Craft Beer Week Main Event: This event will have two sessions, each showcasing beers from all around the province. You won’t find more Nova Scotia craft breweries under one roof.
- East Coast Cider Festival: Atlantic Canada’s biggest and best craft cider festival returns to the Halifax Forum for its third year in a row, featuring no fewer than 22 cider makers and live music!
- Yarmouth Craft Beer Festival: Celebrate craft brewing in the Maritimes. Two tasting sessions and The HOP Run! Over 15 breweries and cideries this year to be serving up almost 100 different varieties of amazing craft beer and cider.
Hope For Wildlife
Hope For Wildlife is located in Seaforth and is a rehabilitation centre for orphaned and injured wildlife. Learn about local wildlife and how you can help them by visiting and touring the centre. You can actually meet the educational animals in the wildlife gardens.
5905 Highway 201, Seaforth
OnTree Fun & Adventure Park
Visit Nova Scotia’s first high rope course climbing and zip-lining park this spring. OnTree Fun & Adventure Park is designed to be challenging and fun for all ages and abilities. There are 14 adult courses, 2 children’s courses and 2 training courses to pick from.
370 Ski Martock Road, Martock
April 1 to November 30, 2019
Hennigar’s Farmer Golf
Play a round of golf through fields and an orchard at Hennigar’s Farmer Golf. The course is fun for the whole family and takes between one and two hours to complete. The animals will be out in the spring and will be waiting for some treats if you want to take a closer look at them. They are just down the hill from the golf course.
10230 Highway 1, Greenwich
April 1 to December 24, 2019
Emera Oval
The Emera Oval is open year round. During the spring and summer, the oval is the place to be for rollerblading and biking. You can borrow inline and roller skates, along with bikes, plasma cars and scooters, and protective gear.
5775 Cogswell Street, Halifax
April 15 to October 27, 2019
Hike the Lone Shieling Trail in Cape Breton Highlands National Park
The Cape Breton Highlands National Park is open year round, but full visitor services are only available from mid-May onward. The Lone Shieling Trail is a ‘must’ hike when you visit this gorgeous National Park. The trail will take you through one of the largest old-growth hardwood forests where you can see a replica of a Scottish crofter’s hut. Keep your eyes out for wildlife, especially moose because they like to walk through the area.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Highland Bow & Arrow
The Highland Bow & Arrow is located on the roadside on the Cabot Trail near Wreck Cove. Try traditional archery with recurve and longbows to choose from. Take a lesson and try your hand for 30 minutes with unlimited arrows. It is around an hour long stop but is worth it the stop, especially if you are traveling.
43118 Cabot Trail, Wreck Cove
June 1 to December 31, 2019
Go Horseback Riding at Serenity Acres Family Ranch
See the spring blooms on horseback this spring at Serenity Acres Family Ranch. Follow the groomed trails around the woodlands, and past miniature waterfalls. The ranch also has an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor picnic sites, tennis court, and a play area for the kids.
7321 Highway 1, Ardoise
Oaklawn Farm Zoo
In the heart of the Annapolis Valley is the Oaklawn Farm Zoo. The zoo is home to the largest display of cats and primates in the Atlantic Provinces. There are pony rides for children. The zoo is 50-acres with a wide variety of reptiles, birds, and mammals.
1007 Ward Road, Aylesford
April 19 to November 15, 2019
Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park
Shubenacadie Provincial Wildlife Park is home to over 30 wild species in Nova Scotia that are at risk of becoming extinct. The park is home to many animals that were born or raised in captivity and cannot be released into the wild. There are special events taking place regularly.
149 Creighton Road, Shubenacadie East
May 17 to October 14, 2019
Valley Drive-In Theatre
Watch a movie under the stars from mid-spring at the Valley Drive-in Theatre. Each weekend, two new release movies will be shown, and you can see both for one price. The canteen on-site has lots to offer, including popcorn, onion rings, French fries and much more.
5943 Highway 1, Cambridge
May 1 to September 30, 2019
Learn about Fair Trade and Coffee
Have you ever wondered how coffee is grown or why there is a fair trade label on items? The Just Us! Coffee, Chocolate and Fair Trade Museum will answer your questions with their interactive museum. The beautiful gardens and the organic farm will take your learning outside. Relax with a delicious coffee after learning where it came from, and how it was roasted.
11865 Highway 1, Hortonville
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Article by: Melyssa Jackson